Chapter 305: The Triple Divine General, Guardian Deity of Countless Generations

Twenty layers, thirty layers...

Several days later, with the assimilation and comprehension of the martial techniques, the number of Dao Domains increased to forty-nine, with thirty-four new types of Dao Domains.

Each Dao Domain had its own unique set of rules, some similar yet subtly different.

Among them were numerous top-tier imperial techniques, including all but the core elite techniques of the Divine General Mansion. Everything that was in the Divine General Mansion could be found here.

As the number of Dao Domains increased, Li Hao could noticeably feel that the cumulative enhancement from their addition was gradually leading towards a qualitative change, rather than a simple quantitative addition.

Previously, the Dao Domains could be easily infiltrated by the rules of the Dao Law Realm, but now, with the combination of forty-nine Dao Domains, Li Hao felt a palpable sense of impregnability.

He intended to seek out Qin Zhenren to have him test his Dao Domains with the power of rules.

However, before that, he searched around the Dao Repository once more and found that aside from the secret manuals of martial techniques, there were only instructional texts on doctrine. There didn't seem to be any collections of famous paintings or chess manuals.

Li Hao let out a bitter laugh. In this martial world, it wasn't easy to come by famous paintings and chess manuals. He would have to collect them from the common folk.

Thankfully, with Emperor Yu's help, it would be much easier to gather these items.

Brushing off the dust from his bottom, Li Hao exited the Dao Repository and saw the two figures who had been waiting at the entrance for days. He smiled and said, "You've been waiting a long time. I'd like to pay a visit to your master."

"General Haotian is too kind. We thought you would be staying in there for a month," Qingjingzi said with a smile.

The two of them actually looked quite surprised, not expecting Li Hao to come out so soon.

The Dao Repository housed countless martial techniques, and one could spend a month inside without eating or drinking and still not finish perusing them all.

They guessed that Li Hao had probably only selected a few of the top imperial techniques to study.

These imperial techniques were originally exclusive to the royal family, but now, with Emperor Yu's decree, Li Hao had free access to cultivate them.

"Okay, I'll take you there now," the young Mingyue Jian immediately nodded, looking a little awkward and unlike a typical proud genius.

Led by the two, Li Hao arrived at the hidden palace of Qiandao Palace, where he saw the old Daoist.

The old man was sitting in front of a spirit tablet, seemingly in mourning.

Qingjingzi brought Li Hao over and, looking at his master's back, as well as the spirit tablet of his eldest senior brother, said in a low voice, "Master, General Haotian is here to see you."

Qin Zhenren's trance-like eyes trembled slightly, gradually focusing as he slowly turned around to see three youthful and vibrant figures behind him, with the boy in the center being particularly conspicuous.

His eyes flickered as he recalled that two years ago, when this boy's fame had spread, he had never imagined that the Great Yu's Dao lineage would ultimately fall not on his two most outstanding disciples, whom he had painstakingly cultivated, but on this boy who had grown up freely outside the palace.

He was already well-informed about Li Hao's past. He knew that with the resources of the Divine General Mansion, although they were invaluable, they couldn't nurture such a top-notch true dragon genius.

"This time, we are deeply grateful for your assistance. His Majesty has already spoken to you about the matter of our lineage, hasn't he?" Qin Zhenren said softly.

Li Hao nodded, expressing his intentions.

Qin Zhenren was a little surprised to hear that Li Hao wanted to test his Dao Domains with his rules. He gazed at Li Hao, his previous impression of the boy's realm still influenced by the terrifying power Li Hao had displayed when he slew the six Dao Law Realm cultivators. He subconsciously overlooked Li Hao's true realm, treating him as a top-notch Dao Perception Realm cultivator.

However, Li Hao's actual cultivation had not yet reached the Dao Perception Realm.

Qin Zhenren's heart twinged with a bitter smile. It was hard to imagine how profound one's cultivation in the martial path had to be to transcend realms and possess such formidable power.

He readily agreed to Li Hao's request, and the two of them soared into the high sky outside Qiandao Palace.

Qingjingzi and Mingyue Jian were also curious and followed, gazing upward as they watched their master and the young boy.

They had only heard about the previous battle in the Imperial Palace and hadn't witnessed it themselves. Their master had placed them in the hidden palace's formation to preserve the lineage, keeping them safe from harm.

Now, seeing the young boy before them, they couldn't help but be curious as they watched him face their master as an equal.

"Then, I shall make a move," Qin Zhenren said. After receiving Li Hao's nod, he suddenly unleashed his Daoist technique, and in an instant, a force of rules rushed towards Li Hao.

Li Hao directly unleashed his forty-nine Dao Domains, layering them over himself.

When the rules collided with the Dao Domains, they seemed to plunge into a deep pool, and their penetration slowed, becoming more and more sluggish.

Eventually, however, they reached Li Hao, but by then, the power of the rules had become extremely weak, and Li Hao easily dispersed them with a wave of his hand.

It seemed that forty-nine Dao Domains were still not enough to completely block the rules, but they had greatly hindered them.

Seeing this, Qin Zhenren's pupils constricted slightly, and a hint of astonishment appeared in his eyes.

During the previous great battle, he had seen Li Hao exhibit fifteen Dao Domains and assumed that was the extent of his ability. But now, forty-nine?

Could he have comprehended all these Dao Domains in the Dao Repository? Qin Zhenren wondered, astonished. Was it possible to do so in such a short time? Nonetheless, the forty-nine Dao Domains had shattered his perception, and it was the first time he had seen someone able to comprehend so many.

With this level of talent, if he had focused on the Dao Perception Realm, he might have entered it long ago.

Below, Mingyue Jian looked up, only to see Li Hao casually wave his hand. He turned to his senior brother with a puzzled expression and asked, "Is it over?"

Qingjingzi, whose expression had always been calm, now looked dazed, his eyes reflecting his shock. It took him a moment to regain his composure and quietly reply, "It's over."

Having reached the Four Establishments Realm, he had only recently become aware of the existence of Dao Domains. Although Mingyue Jian, with his extremely high talent, was second only to Li Hao in the Great Yu, he was still just a Heaven Man Realm cultivator, and the gap between their realms was too vast.

After counting forty-nine Dao Domains, Qingjingzi's mind was in turmoil, despite his outward composure.

Was this the true definition of a prodigious demon? In comparison, he suddenly felt as mundane as dust, and he questioned if his own martial path would ever come close to the boy's accomplishments.

This realization left a bitter taste in his heart, causing his Dao heart to waver slightly.

"Qingjingzi, remember your Dao name. Stay true to your heart, for purity is non-action. There are countless paths in the human world, and you are your own path."

These words, spoken by Qin Zhenren, suddenly echoed in his mind.

Qingjingzi's body trembled as he snapped out of his daze, shaking off the dark and despondent mood that had overtaken him. He quickly dismissed his stray thoughts and, with a serious expression, bowed slightly to show his respect.

Then, he turned his gaze back to the young boy, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions, but they were calmer now.

Qin Zhenren sensed that his disciple's Dao heart had stabilized, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Just witnessing this boy's talent and strength was enough to shatter the Dao hearts of his peers; it was simply too overwhelming.

However, there was no denying that the boy before them was extraordinary, unlike anyone they had encountered before.

At that moment, Qin Zhenren couldn't help but wonder if Li Hao was truly a reincarnation of a sage.

After the test, Li Hao bade farewell to Qin Zhenren with a respectful bow. As he turned to leave, Qin Zhenren asked, "General Haotian, what are your plans from now on?"

Li Hao thought for a moment and replied, "I plan to visit an old friend to bid farewell and then head to the Immortal Sect to deal with that saint's son, eliminating any future troubles. After that, I will return to the mortal world and explore the places I haven't seen yet. I promised a friend that I would show her everything beyond the mortal realm, from the human world to the heavens."

Hearing Li Hao's intentions, Qin Zhenren nodded slightly. He had been worried that the saint's son who had left earlier would seek more powerful help.

If they intervened again, it might even be a half-sage this time.

Sages wouldn't stoop so low as to personally come to the mortal realm to compete for faith.

Moreover, a sage's presence in the mortal world would affect their own faith, so they needed to maintain a distance.

Unless it was a sage who had achieved enlightenment through sacrifice, but such beings often had no factional attachments and were solely focused on their path, rarely involving themselves in worldly matters.

"Before you depart, General Haotian, I have a gift for you," Qin Zhenren said.

"Oh? What is it?" Li Hao asked, curious.

"You don't have a suitable weapon yet, do you?" Qin Zhenren asked.

With a smile, Qin Zhenren explained, "This Qian Dao Palace is a fragment of a Dao Tribulation Emperor's weapon. I will use this palace to forge a sword for you."

Li Hao was taken aback. A Dao Tribulation Emperor's weapon? As he looked at the majestic Qian Dao Palace, he suddenly understood its origins.

"Unfortunately, this sword is only exceptionally hard, and the might of an Emperor's weapon has long since faded away." Qin Zhenren sighed.

Li Hao nodded slightly. Indeed, he lacked a suitable divine sword. The Dragon Cloud Godsword he had initially was as fragile as dandelion fluff in his hands, easily deformed and broken if he exerted too much force. As for the other saintly treasures, while they matched his own physical toughness, they were more of a luxury than a necessity.

"That's alright, as long as it's hard and sharp enough," Li Hao said.

Qin Zhenren nodded in agreement, and they set a time for the sword to be completed.

When Li Hao learned that it would take three months, he didn't seem rushed. He still had many things he wanted to do.

After bidding farewell to Qin Zhenren and the two disciples, Li Hao left the Qian Dao Palace.

By the time he returned to the Imperial Palace, the damaged halls had already been restored, thanks to the world of martial artists who made such construction effortless.

Upon seeing Li Hao again, Emperor Yu's expression was complex. "You little rascal, if it weren't for the Wang family speaking up, how long were you planning to keep this from me?"

Although his words sounded reproachful, his tone was filled with concern.

"What do you mean?" Li Hao asked, feigning ignorance.

"You're that bug, Bug Two, aren't you? And you're the one who opened up the Merit Treasury too? You..." Emperor Yu had been struck dumb when he first heard this news from Wang Zhendong and the others who had come to reinforce them.

While Li Hao was strong, he knew that force alone might not be enough to resolve the complexities of the Mortuary River.

Saving the Imperial Palace, as well as opening the Merit Treasury for Emperor Yu, had resulted in the cultivation of countless martial artists.

As Emperor Yu looked at the young boy before him, he didn't know how to express his gratitude.

"Those were minor matters, just me ensuring my own survival," Li Hao said with a smile, not taking too much credit for his actions. Turning to Emperor Yu, he asked, "Your Majesty, are your people still gathering those famous paintings and chess manuals for me?"

Emperor Yu snapped out of his daze and smiled bitterly. "I've already dispatched two groups to search for and collect them on your behalf."

Li Hao nodded in satisfaction and then bid farewell to Emperor Yu.

Emperor Yu didn't try to stop him, but he did say, "Even though you already have more than enough merit and your rank is beyond compare, I will still bestow a title upon you to ensure your faith in the future. I will proclaim it to the world."

"Mhm," Li Hao nodded, not objecting.

As Li Hao left the Imperial Palace, a decree was issued throughout the royal city, reverberating throughout the Ten-Nine Provinces.

The decree enumerated Li Hao's numerous achievements and also revealed his identity as Bug Two.

For his merit, he was bestowed the title of Divine General.

For saving the Three Provinces—Cool Province, Shadow Province, and Green Province—he was once again granted the title of Divine General.

For saving the Imperial City and preserving the Dao, he was yet again bestowed the title of Divine General.

For accumulating the merit of three Divine Generals, Emperor Yu broke the precedent set by the previous emperor and bestowed upon Li Hao the title of Great Yu Divine General. He granted him a grand province, established the Divine General Manor, and appointed him as the guardian deity for countless generations to come!

With the issuance of this decree, the entire Ten-Nine Provinces was shaken to its core.

The various Divine General Manors and countless noble families were astounded.

Every line of the decree, every mention of Hao Tian's name, echoed through the Ten-Nine Provinces.

The title of Divine General was equal to that of an emperor, with the authority to decide life and death within the Great Yu Empire. Even members of the royal family could be directly executed if they offended the Divine General.

The Divine General ranked above all other generals, with the power to command any military force in the empire. All other Divine Generals had to answer his call and could not disobey!

As the details of the decree spread, countless people were left dumbfounded and awe-struck.

This was akin to appointing a god of war, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was the second emperor of Great Yu.